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Sports
India’s Cricket and Hockey Squads Target Asian Games 2026 Finals
✍️ The News Mill
🗓 01 Oct 2026, 06:29 AM
👁 19
The national cricket and hockey teams have set their sights on reaching the finals of the 2026 Asian Games.
New Delhi – Both the Indian cricket and hockey federations have confirmed that their senior squads are gearing up for the Asian Games slated for 2026, with the primary objective of securing a place in the tournament's final rounds. The cricket board has outlined a series of preparatory matches and talent identification camps to build a competitive side, while the hockey association is focusing on international exposure tours to sharpen tactics.
The Asian Games, scheduled to be hosted in Nagoya, Japan, will feature cricket for the first time since its inclusion in 2010, and hockey remains a core sport. Qualification pathways require teams to perform well in regional qualifiers and maintain a high ranking in the Asian circuit, prompting both federations to intensify training camps ahead of the 2025 qualifying events.
Officials emphasized that reaching the finals would not only boost the sports' profiles domestically but also serve as a stepping stone toward the 2028 Olympic agenda. Stakeholders are monitoring player fitness, squad balance, and the integration of emerging talent to ensure the teams are match‑ready when the Games commence.
The Asian Games, scheduled to be hosted in Nagoya, Japan, will feature cricket for the first time since its inclusion in 2010, and hockey remains a core sport. Qualification pathways require teams to perform well in regional qualifiers and maintain a high ranking in the Asian circuit, prompting both federations to intensify training camps ahead of the 2025 qualifying events.
Officials emphasized that reaching the finals would not only boost the sports' profiles domestically but also serve as a stepping stone toward the 2028 Olympic agenda. Stakeholders are monitoring player fitness, squad balance, and the integration of emerging talent to ensure the teams are match‑ready when the Games commence.